A code of conduct aims to ensure public trust and confidence in the Municipality’s decision making and operations. The public should expect the highest standards of conduct from the members they elect to local government, as well as members serving on Boards and Committees. In turn, adherence to these standards will protect and maintain the Municipality’s reputation and integrity of its decision-making process.
The Corporation of the Town of Petawawa is committed to achieving the highest quality of municipal administration and governance by encouraging high standards of conduct on the part of all elected officials and members of its Boards and Committees.
Any individual who identifies or witnesses behaviour or an activity by a Member that they believe is in contravention of this Code of Conduct or the Municipal Conflict of Interest Act, may file a formal complaint. The complaint must be submitted in writing on the prescribed Complaint Form (see below) to the CAO and/or Clerk and accompanied by the prescribed fee in the amount of $150.00. The CAO and/or Clerk will then forward the complaint to the Town’s Integrity Commissioner (Tony Fleming of Cunningham Swan Carty Little & Bonham LLP) for investigation. If the Integrity Commissioner determines that a complaint is frivolous, vexatious or does not disclose a breach of this Code of Conduct or the Municipal Conflict of Interest Act, at any point after the submission of the complaint, the complainant shall forfeit the fee. If the result of the complaint is a negotiated resolution or a finding that the Member breached this Code of Conduct or the Municipal Conflict of Interest Act, the fee shall be refunded in part, up to 50%, based on the recommendation of the Integrity Commissioner.
Individuals are encouraged to pursue the informal complaint procedure (Schedule “A” Part I of Council Code of Conduct) as the first means of remedying behaviour or an activity that they believe violates the Code of Conduct or the Municipal Conflict of Interest Act.